Opposers relent, pre-paid auto resumes in Katpadi

Katpadi railway station manager K Ravindranath said, “Those auto associations that opposed the system, two days ago, arranged for a meeting on their own and agreed to follow common specific norms.”

The norms included no fleecing of passengers, drivers should not be drunk and must wear uniform while at work, said a member of one of the auto drivers association. It maybe recalled that the service, which resumed on May 31, again came to halt a couple of months later, due to opposition raised by other drivers as it took a toll on their daily earnings. 

Railway officials ordered the closure of prepaid booth and also terminated the contractor. 

Following this, a month ago auto drivers met the officials of the southern railway’s commercial department in Chennai, to find a solution to the issue. However, efforts made a month ago were stopped within four days after the opposing union members came to blows and the booth was shut.

Following this, Katpadi railway officials ordered that all autos should stay out of the premises and were allowed only to drop or pick up passengers. Only town buses were allowed into the station premises. This affected auto drivers as there were no space to park the auto.

It was only then that auto men, who were opposed to the scheme, held a meeting and agreed to ply on rates fixed by the Vellore RTO. The commuters heaved a sigh of relief when the service was re-started.

The fixed rate to CMC hospital currently costs Rs 78, contrary to Rs 300 charged earlier.